Foxwoods still pursuing casino plans in Massachusetts

Tuesday

Dec 24, 2013 at 12:01 AMDec 24, 2013 at 12:35 PM

While still “disappointed” that its bid failed in Milford, Crossroads Massachusetts LLC has not wavered in its plans to bring a resort casino to the state, the chief executive of Foxwoods Resort Casino confirmed Monday.

Matt Tota

While still “disappointed” that its bid failed in Milford, Crossroads Massachusetts LLC has not wavered in its plans to bring a resort casino to the state, the chief executive of Foxwoods Resort Casino confirmed Monday.

With the same investor group intact, including chief development officer David Nunes, Crossroads is pursuing other locations for a Foxwoods Massachusetts casino, CEO Scott Butera said in a brief telephone interview.

“We would like to be in Massachusetts,” he said. “We were disappointed in the results (in Milford), but we understand that it was what the town wanted. Having said that, we still want to operate in the commonwealth and we are looking forward to other opportunities.”

Nunes did not return calls for comment.

The Boston Globe first reported Monday that Foxwoods is seeking another avenue to compete for a casino license in the state. According to the Globe, citing an unnamed source, Foxwoods has spoken with city officials in Fall River about building a casino there.

Butera would not specify what region Foxwoods is focusing on now, saying, “We are looking for any opportunities,” including southeastern Massachusetts.

Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan said he wouldn’t confirm or deny talks between himself and representatives from Foxwoods Resort Casino, but he said he would welcome any inquiries about bringing gambling to Fall River.

However, someone close to the issue, who did not want to be named, confirmed the administration is in contact with Foxwoods.

“As mayor, I support the construction of a resort-style casino in the city that would create a 1,000 jobs and generate millions of dollars in revenue,” Flanagan said.

The city, he said, has land available to sustain the construction of a casino and residents would be welcoming.

“I truly believe a referendum vote would be passed by a majority in the city if they were presented with a good host community agreement,” Flanagan said.

Flanagan said any potential casino developer would have to be pro-Fall River when it came to jobs for its residents.

“I would only entertain a legitimate development and not one that would not be beneficial to the community,” Flanagan said.

“Foxwoods is a giant in gaming and it’s a name people in Fall River know and are familiar with,” Flanagan said.

Massachusetts Gaming Commission spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll said in an email Monday that Foxwoods, even as it was stymied in Milford, would be able to pursue a casino in another region.
An applicant who may have stumbled trying for the eastern or western Massachusetts licenses, Driscoll said, may still consider the sole license for Region C.

And, Crossroads has already received a favorable suitability ruling from the commission, which has vetted all of the casino applicants.

The commission has to date only received one application for a Region C license — from developer, KG Urban, which is eyeing New Bedford. However, the federally recognized Mashpee Wampanoag tribe is seeking to build a tribal casino in Taunton. Tribal casinos are separate from the state process that seeks to grant up to three resort casino licenses in the state.